Plaxico Burress' second chance with the Pittsburgh Steelers may not go beyond its first season. The veteran wide receiver was carted off the field during the team's training camp practice on Thursday. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Burress suffered a torn rotator cuff and is likely to miss the entire 2013 season.

The biggest question, however, is whether the injury is severe enough to end Burress' career after 11 non-consecutive seasons in the NFL. In a statement issued Friday, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Burress will need his shoulder surgically repaired.

"During Thursday's practice, Plaxico suffered what appears to be a significant shoulder injury," Tomlin said. "He is scheduled for surgery on Monday, and we will reevaluate the injury at that time."

Burress was hurt after he fell awkwardly on his right shoulder while attempting to catch a ball. He has been fighting for a roster spot with fellow veteran Jerricho Cotchery. The Steelers, with Mike Wallace leaving for Miami, have Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders as their starters, and rookie Markus Wheaton is tabbed for a key role, all ahead of Burress. Ben Roethlisberger has plenty of options without Burress.

The Steelers signed Burress to a one-year contract in the offseason after he played a reserve role for Pittsburgh last season. He appeared in only four games in 2012.

Burress, 35, was originally the eighth overall pick by the Steelers in the 2000 draft. He also has played for both of the NFL's New York teams. He caught the game-winning touchdown with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII after the '07 season. Following his two-year prison sentence for criminal firearm possession, he returned to the league in '11, taking a one-year, $3 million contract with the Jets rather than returning to the Steelers on a two-year deal.

The Steelers, battling other injuries at wide receiver last summer, gave him another shot in '12. Given his age and status on the depth chart in '13 even before the shoulder injury, Burress is in danger of not playing anywhere in the NFL ever again.